Exercise device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an exercise device and a method of exercising and in particular to a device adapted to support the exercising person&#39;s s weight and roll along the exercising person&#39;s back as the exercising person undertakes a series of sit-up type movements while alternatively bending and straightening the knees with the feet in a fixed position. The exercise device having a torso supporting portion fabricated from a resiliently deformable material and having a circular cross section, a stabilising means extending laterally from the torso supporting portion adapted to ensure that the torso supporting portion may roll in a line parallel to the circular cross section of the torso supporting section but not in a direction normal thereto, the resiliently deformable nature of the torso supporting portion being such as to cushion the point of contact between the torso supporting portion and a user&#39;s spine with the degree of deformation not being to such an extent that impedes rolling of the device along a flat floor of a surface with the weight of the user&#39;s torso thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise device and a method of exercising and in particular to a device adapted to support the exercising person's weight and roll along the exercising person's back as the exercising person undertakes a series of sit-up type movements while alternatively bending and straightening the knees with the feet in a fixed position.

[0002] Recent decades have brought an increased awareness of the need for physical fitness particularly having regard to the modern day tendency for persons to become more and more inactive due to the sedentary lifestyle of the majority of the population. Many exercise devices have been devised for the purpose of exercising different areas of the body although some of the older exercises such as sit-ups are still effective for exercising certain muscles such as the stomach muscles. Sit-ups however have recently been discredited as an exercise due to excessive strain on the lower back muscles and also the considerable impact involved whilst raising the back for the first few centimetres off the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to facilitate a sit-up style exercise which works the stomach muscles but without the high impact nature of conventional sit-up exercise. Alternatively the device and method of the present invention will provide the market with an alternative to conventional exercises.

[0004] According to the present invention there is disclosed an exercise device having a torso supporting portion fabricated from a resiliently deformable material and having a circular cross section; stabilising means extending laterally from the torso supporting portion adapted to ensure that the torso supporting portion may roll in a line parallel to the circular cross section of the torso supporting section but not in a direction normal thereto; the resiliently deformable nature of the torso supporting portion being such as to cushion the point of contact between the torso supporting portion and a user's spine with the degree of deformation not being to such an extent that impedes rolling of the device along a flat floor of a surface with the weight of the user's torso thereon.

[0005] According to another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a system of exercising using a device wherein a person sits upon the device with their legs extending substantially normally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device and their feet upon a floor or other fixed surface; the lower back or buttocks of the exercising person at some point of the exercise cycle being placed on the torso supporting portion of the device; the device during the exercising process being rolled along the back of the person up to a position adjacent the shoulders by reason of the person bending their knees and hence drawing their heels towards their buttocks; the legs of the exercising person then being extended to complete the exercise cycle and return the device to a position adjacent the lower back

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0008]FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are schematic representations of the exercise positions adopted by an exercising person during use of a device in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] With reference to FIG. 1 there is disclosed an exercise device 1 being cylindrical in nature fabricated from thermoplastic material and being inflatable via inflation nipple 2. The exercise device 1 is provided adjacent its central portion with an area having raised radially outwardly directed nodules 3.

[0010] It will be observed that the central portion 4 of the device is circular in cross section and the raised nodules 3 are primarily disposed in this area.

[0011] The device in accordance with the present invention is utilised by an exercising person 5 as is depicted in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Initially as is depicted in FIG. 2 the exercising person 5 places the exercise device 1 on a flat surface 6 and then sits upon the device so that the buttocks 7 of the exercising person 5 are placed on central portion 4 of the device 1 with the legs 8 of the exercising person extending substantially normally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device. It may also be useful for the exercising person 5 to hook their feet 9 under a table or other like device as depicted at 10 for stability. The exercising person 5 then draws up their knees 11 so as to pull themselves slightly closer to stationary table 10. During this process the exercise device I will roll along surface 6 towards table 10 but will also progress from the buttocks 7 up the back 12 of the exercising person 5. During this process the exercising person will recline slightly so as to prevent their buttocks touching surface 6. This motion is continued by the exercising person drawing up their knees further as is best depicted in FIG. 4 whilst maintaining their feet in a fixed position under table 10 so that the exercise device 1 rolls further up the back of the exercising person and towards table 10.

[0012] During this process the control necessary to effect these movements results in exercise of stomach and lower back muscles as well as the upper thighs. It will be appreciated that the exercise is extremely low impact as the resiliently deformable nature of the exercise device 1 (in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 1 resilient deformability is ensured by its inflatable nature) cushions the buttocks and back of the exercising person and there is no necessity for sharp jerky movements. When the position depicted in FIG. 4 is reached the exercising person then executes the movements of FIGS. 2-4 in a reverse direction by extending the knees from the bent position and raising the torso back to the sitting position as the exercise device progresses back towards the exercising person's buttocks.

[0013] It will be appreciated that nodules 3 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 may massage the back of the exercising person during the exercise sequence depicted in FIGS. 2-4 hereof and additionally the nodules provide for grip between the exercise device 1 and surface 6. This grip may be important in the case of carpet for example where an inflatable thermoplastic exercise device might otherwise tend to slip out from underneath the exercising person.

[0014] It is not necessary that the exercise device of the present invention be inflatable and for example a cylindrical exercise device in accordance with the present invention may be fabricated from any known material although if the device is not inflatable it is desirable that the external skin of the device at least adjacent the central area where it is intended to contact an exercising person be fabricated from a resiliently formable material such as foam rubber.

[0015] It will be appreciated that an exercise device in accordance with the present invention should have that portion thereof which is intended to support the torso fabricated from resiliently deformable material so as to provide comfort where it bears against the spine of the user. The product should not deform however in such a manner that prevents it readily rolling along a floor or other flat surface. To this end a rigid core (for example Styrofoam) may be utilised with a resiliently deformable overlay or alternatively a resiliently deformable material may be utilised throughout such as rubber.

[0016] Even the cylindrical configuration of the present invention is not essential as an embodiment may be devised comprising a central substantially spherical member with stabilising disks (or spheres) lying laterally thereof and attached to the central spherical portion along a central longitudinal axis by rods.

[0017] Obviously an inflatable embodiment is desirable from the point of view of storage and transportation having regard to its compact size when deflated. 

I claim:
 1. An exercise device having a torso supporting portion fabricated from a resiliently deformable material and having a circular cross section; stabilising means extending laterally from the torso supporting portion adapted to ensure that the torso supporting portion may roll in a line parallel to the circular cross section of the torso supporting section but not in a direction normal thereto; the resiliently deformable nature of the torso supporting portion being such as to cushion the point of contact between the torso supporting portion and a user's spine with the degree of deformation not being to such an extent that impedes rolling of the device along a flat floor of a surface with the weight of the user's torso thereon.
 2. A system of exercising using a device in accordance with claim 1 hereof wherein a person sits upon the device with their legs extending substantially normally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device and their feet upon a floor or other fixed surface; the lower back or buttocks of the exercising person at some point of the exercise cycle being placed on the torso supporting portion of the device; the device during the exercising process being rolled along the back of the person up to a position adjacent the shoulders by reason of the person bending their knees and hence drawing their heels towards their buttocks; the legs of the exercising person then being extended to complete the exercise cycle and return the device to a position adjacent the lower back.
 3. An exercise device in accordance with claim 1 hereof wherein the device is cylindrical in configuration and the stabilising means comprise the longitudinal extremities of the cylinder.
 4. A system of exercising using a device in accordance with claim 3 hereof wherein a person sits upon the device with their legs extending substantially normally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device and their feet upon a floor or other fixed surface; the lower back or buttocks of the exercising person at some point of the exercise cycle being placed on the torso supporting portion of the device; the device during the exercising process being rolled along the back of the person up to a position adjacent the shoulders by reason of the person bending their knees and hence drawing their heels towards their buttocks; the legs of the exercising person then being extended to complete the exercise cycle and return the device to a position adjacent the lower back.
 5. An exercise device in accordance with claim 1 hereof wherein the torso supporting portion comprises a central substantially spherical member with stabilising disks lying laterally thereof and attached to the central spherical portion by rods extending along a longitudinal axis of a device substantially normal to the disks.
 6. A system of exercising using a device in accordance with claim 5 hereof wherein a person sits upon the device with their legs extending substantially normally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device and their feet upon a floor or other fixed surface; the lower back or buttocks of the exercising person at some point of the exercise cycle being placed on the torso supporting portion of the device; the device during the exercising process being rolled along the back of the person up to a position adjacent the shoulders by reason of the person bending their knees and hence drawing their heels towards their buttocks; the legs of the exercising person then being extended to complete the exercise cycle and return the device to a position adjacent the lower back.
 7. An exercise device in accordance with claim 1 hereof wherein the torso supporting portion thereof is inflatable.
 8. A system of exercising using a device in accordance with claim 7 hereof wherein a person sits upon the device with their legs extending substantially normally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device and their feet upon a floor or other fixed surface; the lower back or buttocks of the exercising person at some point of the exercise cycle being placed on the torso supporting portion of the device; the device during the exercising process being rolled along the back of the person up to a position adjacent the shoulders by reason of the person bending their knees and hence drawing their heels towards their buttocks; the legs of the exercising person then being extended to complete the exercise cycle and return the device to a position adjacent the lower back.
 9. An exercise device in accordance with claim 1 hereof wherein the torso supporting portion of the device is provided with externally directed nodules adapted to massage the back of the user and/or to prevent the device slipping when rolled along a floor.
 10. A system of exercising using a device in accordance with claim 9 hereof wherein a person sits upon the device with their legs extending substantially normally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device and their feet upon a floor or other fixed surface; the lower back or buttocks of the exercising person at some point of the exercise cycle being placed on the torso supporting portion of the device; the device during the exercising process being rolled along the back of the person up to a position adjacent the shoulders by reason of the person bending their knees and hence drawing their heels towards their buttocks; the legs of the exercising person then being extended to complete the exercise cycle and return the device to a position adjacent the lower back. 